If the Miami Dolphins select Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson with the NFL Draft‘s 21st pick, they will already have a blueprint for how to use him.
Just cue up the Cameron Wake archives. The similarities in games is freaky. Same height. Roughly the same weight. And very similar get-off and athleticism.
Here’s more on the EDGE defender who could be the missing piece for a talented Dolphins defense.
Miami Dolphins Draft Preview: Get To Know Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson
The Basics
- Age: 21
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 254 pounds
- Current Year: Junior
- PFN Big Board Ranking: No. 16 overall, No. 2 EDGE
Why Chop Robinson Is a First-Round Talent
Robinson has truly special athleticism for a man his size.
According to his Relative Athletic Score, Robinson tested in the 98th percentile for his position at the NFL Scouting Combine, with off-the-charts results in the 40-yard dash (4.48) — including absurd splits at 10 (1.53) and 20 yards (2.6) — the broad jump (10’8″), and shuttle (4.25).
But this isn’t some workout warrior who disappears on film.
“Robinson’s physical build is unique,” PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings writes in Robinson’s draft profile. “He doesn’t have the elite length or raw power element that many crave in top-tier EDGE defenders. But Robinson nevertheless wins with all kinds of different qualities, and he compensates in the power realm with his momentum generation, strength, leverage, and relentless drive.
“Robinson’s elite explosive athleticism and play speed can send tackles careening off the snap, and his high-end ankle flexion only makes his speed more potent. Robinson’s burst and bend are overwhelming qualities, and he can capitalize on those traits with active hands.
“There’s still room for Robinson to further fill out his pass-rush arsenal and be more consistent with his power, but he’s ultimately a maniacal hot-motor attacker with the bedrock athletic traits to be an instant disruptor, and he can do so from all alignments. The flashes of combo work and combative hand usage invite excitement for his projection.”
How Robinson Would Fit
If there is a knock on Robinson, it’s that his stats in college — which include just 11.5 sacks in 30 games — are kind of underwhelming.
He’ll need some polishing at the next level. Fortunately for him, he would have three great mentors in Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Shaq Barrett.
In 2024, Robinson would be a situational player, but adding him to a speed pass-rush package could be absolutely lethal. In an ideal world, he’d be on the field for 25 snaps or so a game — but those 25 snaps would be among the most important.
“Robinson profiles best as a stand-up EDGE in odd and hybrid-front schemes, but the most creative defensive coordinators have the best chance of maximizing Robinson’s output,” Cummings writes.
“He’s a game wrecker at the end of the day who can be weaponized to exploit mismatches all across the line. Pressure and pandemonium — that’s what he generates, without fail.”
What’s in a Name?
Robinson’s given name is Demeioun, but said at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this offseason that the only time his parents call him by his first name “is when I’m in trouble.”
Chop is short for Pork Chop, coined by his mom after delivering him at a whopping 14 pounds.
“Once I got older, I started to slim down, and I couldn’t have people calling me Pork Chop, so I just kept the Chop,” he added.
One other fun fact: Robinson is the third-youngest of 10 children.
He Said It
Robinson has drawn comparisons to Wake and Micah Parsons — fellow Penn State products. If he can come close to duplicating either of his predecessors’ careers, the pick at 21 would be a home run for the Dolphins.
Asked at the Combine what makes a great pass rusher, Robinson replied:
“I’d say a guy who can get off the ball, a guy with some speed, a guy that can bend crazy. I think that makes the best pass rusher, a guy that can bend and use his hands.”
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